Loose leaf binder device



May 13, 94- l E. A. KoELLrNG 2,242,035

LOOSE LEAF BINDER DEVICE Filed May 6, 1939 Paten'ted May 13, 1941 UNITED 7 Claims.

The present device relates generally to loose leaf binders, and more particularly to a novel device for quickly alternately opening and closing the posts of a binder.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel device, known in the trade as a booster, which is adapted to open and to close alternately the ring posts of a binder.

Another object is to provide a novel booster which includes a member adapted to guide the movable parts of the booster and to provide means for anchoring the metal to a cover.

Another object is to provide a novel booster which is sturdy in construction, simple and positive in operation, and inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View oi a complete loose leaf binder incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a segment of the loose leaf binder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in one extreme position.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing the elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the other extreme position;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fi'g. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-5 of Fig. 2 showing the elements of the present invention in the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. '1 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2 showing the elements of the present invention in the position of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 8 is `a perspective view of one ci the ineinbers of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, there is shown in Fig. 1 a loose leaf metal I9 in association 'with a back or cover |I.

The metal I includes a spring easing I2 having returned longitudinal anges I3 and I4 (Fig. 6), toggle plates and I6, and ring post halves I1 and I8 supported by the toggle plates I5 and IS, respectively. The ring post halves I1 and I8 are adapted to be moved from a closed position (Fig. 6) to an open position (Fig. 7), during which movement the toggle plates I5 and I6 are moved across center against the casing I2. The ring post halves I1 and I8 are maintained in either the opened or the closed poforce of the spring Sition by the action of the spring casing l2 against the toggle plates I5 and I6.

At each end of the casing I2 is a booster 20 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. A hollow eyelet 2| including a head 22 at one end and a shoulder 23 and reduced portion 24 at the other end is secured in an aperture inthe casing I 2,the reduced portion 24 being peened over into contiguous relationship with the upper surface of the casing I2 adjacent the aperture 25, the shoulder 23 being in abutting relationship with the lower surface of the casing I2 adjacent the aperture 25. The material of the casing I2 adjacent the aperture 25 is pressed inwardly to provide a countersunk relationship.

A lever 21 of the cross-sectional configuration shown in Fig. 3 including a pivot section 28 and an operating section or handle 29 has an aperture Sil in the pivot section 28 through which the eyelet 2| extends. The lever 21 has pivotal contact with the head 22 of the eyelet 2| through a central arcuate portion of the pivot section 28, as is clear from Figs. 3 and 4. The pivot section 28 terminates in a free end 3|. The operating section 29 extends through an opening 32 in the end of the casing I2.

A second lever 33 of the conguration shown in Fig. 3 is iioatingly associated with the eyelet 2| and the lever 21 by means of an aperture 34, through which the eyelet 2| extends, and a right# angular projection 35 Which extends through an aperture 36 in the pivot section 25 of the lever 2l. The lever 33 includes a free end 31 which is disposed in superposed relation to the free end 3l of the lever 21. An intermediate arcuate portion of the lever 33 has pivotal engagement with the underside of the casing I2 adjacent the aperture 25, as is clear from Figs. 3 and 4.

The free end 3| of the lever 21 is disposed at one side of the toggle plates I5 and I6 (Figs. 3, 6, and '7), and the free end 31 of the lever 33 is disposed at the other side of the toggle plates I5 and I6.

The hollow eyelet 2|, in addition to serving as a guide and partial support for the levers 21 and 33, receives a rivet 40 which secures the cover and the metal I0 in xed relationship. The head 22 of the eyelet 2| forms a firm base against which the end portion of the cover is forced in the riveting action, thereby preventing deformation of the cover I.

The preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the above-described floating relationship of the lever 33 to the lever 21. HOW- Operation The booster 2l) is adapted to quickly open and close the ring post halves I1 and I8, Either a single booster 28 disposed at one end of the metal I or two boosters 28 disposed as shown can be used.

When the ring post halves I 'I and I8 are in the closed position, the toggle plates I andvIG and the elements of the booster 20 are in the relative positions shown in Figs. 3 and 6. 'Io open the ring post halves I'I and I8, the operating section or handle 29 of the lever 21 is moved to the right (Fig. 3), which pivots the pivot section 28 about the 'arcuate portion thereof as -a movable fulcrum. This pivotal movement raises the free end v3| which forces the Itoggle plates I5 and I6 across center and moves the several elements into the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The action of the'spring casing I2 against the toggle plates I5 and I6 maintains the several elements in the afore-Inentioned position.

To close the ring post halves Il and I3, the operating section 29 of the lever 21 is moved to the left (Fig, 4) which effects a pivotal movement of the lever 33 about the central arcuate portion thereof as a movable fulcrum, the pivot section 28 of the lever 27 engaging the lever 33 adjacent the projection 35. This pivot-al movement ofithe lever 33 moves the free end 31 downwardly, forcing the toggle plates I5 and I6 across center and closing the ring post halves I1 and I8. Both this closing action and the opening action are concluded with a snap, due to the strong forceof the spring casing I2.

The apertures 39 and 34 in the levers 21 and 33 must, of course, be of sufficient size to permit the effective operation of the movable fulcrums of these two levers. The aperture 33 in the pivot section 28 of the lever 21 is of suhcient size lto permit the'movement of the projection 35 of the lever 33 in order to effect a floating relationship y between the levers 21 and 33.

It is apparent that there has been provided a booster construction which is adapted to fulll all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. It is to be understood that the foregoing description and- -accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1, A booster for loose leaf binders comprising a member, a rst lever having an aperture through which said member extends, .a second lever connected to said first lever and having an aperture through which said member extends, and means for moving said levers.

2. A booster for loose leaf binders comprising a member, a first lever having van aperture through which said member extends, a second lever connected to said first lever and having an aperture through which said member extends, each of said levers including a free end, said free ends being in su-perposed relation and adapted to receive an object therebetween, `and means for moving said levers.

3. A booster for loose leaf binders comprising a support, a rst member pivotally associated with said support, a second member floatingly connected to said rst member and adapted to be moved bodily relative thereto, and means for moving said members.

4. Ina device of the kind described, a support, a member connected to said support, a lever engaging said member, a second lever in iioating engagement with said first lever guided by said member, said levers being operatively associated with the ring post support of .a binder, and means for moving the levers to open and close the ring posts.

5. In a device of the kind described,'a support, a member connected :to said-support, :a first lever pivotally and guidedly engaging said member, a second lever pivotally engaging said support and guidedly engaging said'member, said levers being operatively associated with the ring post support of a binder, and means for moving the levers to open and close the ring posts.

6. In combination,'a casing, a hollow headed eyelet connected to said casing through an aperture in the casing, the head of the eyelet being remote from the connection with the casing, a lever in pivotal contact with the eyelet head having an aperture through which said eyelet extends, a second lever connected to said first lever having an aperture through which said eyelet extends, said second lever being in pivotal'contact with saidcasing, andmeans for moving said levers.

7. In combination, a casing, a hollow headed eyelet connected to said casing through an aperture in the casing, the head of the-eyelet being remote from the connection with the casing, a lever in pivotal contact with the eyelet head having an aperture through which said eyelet extends, a second leverconnected to said firstlever having an aperture through which said eyelet extends, said second lever being in pivotal contact with said casing, each of said levers including a free end, said freeends being disposed relative to each other to receive an object therebetween, and means for moving said levers.

EDWARD A. KOELLING. 

